The Gut-Brain Connection: Understanding Simple Science

Have you ever experienced a 'gut feeling'? There are lots of connections and relationships between your brain and your gut than you could ever imagine---they are like best friends who talks about everything, from practical to emotional ones.

What is the Gut-Brain Connection?

The gut-brain connection refers to a continuous and two way communication network that links your digestive track with your central nervous system. It explains how bodily functions like digestion, immune system and appetite is strongly associated with your emotional well-being and the stress level.

The Systems within the Gut-Brain Connection

Have you ever heard of the phrase 'gut-brain axis'? It is the network of nerves which sends signals back and forth among your brain and your gut. As we know, our nerves also works closely with the endocrine system that controls feelings of hunger and satiety, as well as our immune system which instructs nerves to fight back diseases and injuries.

Enteric Nervous System

The enteric nervous system, which is a division of your automatic nervous system, is considered as the second most complex neural network after our brain, containing more than 500 million neurons. It is the system that manages all the digestive works of your body, both with and without the in

structions from your brain. Being able to independently process the conditions within your gut and intestines and provide subsequent responses to certain conditions are the reasons why scientists sometimes refers it as our 'second brain'.

Vagus Nerve

Vagus nerve is the nerve that we think of which connects the enteric nervous system about our gut with our central nervous system. The nerve contains both sensory information that is sent to the brain and also motor signals from our brain to the gut.

Gut Microbiome

Do you believe that the bacterias in your gut also plays a crucial role in the communication between your gut and your brain? The gut microbiomes actually creates chemical neurotransmitters that are essential in making the connection between the two. Indeed, it not only connects the gut and the brain: the chemical produced may also affect the brain through your blood stream, whereas your brain also maintains the ability to alter environments in your gut, in turn, influencing the gut microbiomes.